Northern Uzbek in Russia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The earliest ancestors of the Uzbeks, the Central Asian Turks, aided Genghis Khan in his conquest of Eastern Europe in the 1300s. Eventually, as unity between the Turks and Mongols faded, there were numerous warring kingdoms that emerged. It was from several of these kingdoms that the Uzbeks descended. As time progressed, they developed their own language and culture, though it is like the others in Central Asia. By the mid-1800s, the Russians had conquered most of the Uzbeks. The Russians controlled much of Central Asia including what is now Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. They lived under czarist rule until the Bolshevik Revolution brought the communists to power in 1917. The new socialist government forced many of the Uzbek nomads and farmers to live on collective farms.

When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, the Central Asians controlled by Moscow became independent of Russian rule. In Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, Uzbeks speak the Southern Uzbek dialect which is mutually intelligible with Northern Uzbek. The main differences are about the grammar and certain loan words from other languages. Those in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan speak Northern Uzbek.

There are large Uzbek communities in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as small communities in many other nations, including Belarus, Turkey, Azerbaijan and even the United States. Some live in Russia, usually in urban centers like Moscow.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Uzbeks come to Russia for low-paying, migrant jobs and they are looked down upon by the Russian majority. In 2014 there was an anti-Uzbek riot in some of Russia’s cities leading to the death of some Uzbeks. Uzbeks are singled out more than other Central Asian migrants; they face discrimination, humiliation and sometimes violence. They remain in Russia because they desperately need jobs, which are hard to find in Uzbekistan. Some are recruited into crime networks. Their situation is desperate.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Uzbeks are Sunni Muslims of the conservative Hanafite branch. Like other Muslims, the Uzbeks believe that there is one God, Allah, whose will was revealed through the prophet Mohammed and then recorded in the Koran. They are generally not Orthodox Muslims since they usually mix traditional beliefs with their Islamic practices. Many of the younger generation are either atheists or non-religious. Uzbeks in Russia are seldom open to outside spiritual input.


What Are Their Needs?

The Uzbeks in Russia have an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel. Unfortunately, they are often at odds with the “Christian” Russians. Who will reach out to them with the kindness and love of the one, true savior?


Prayer Points

Pray for God’s protection for Uzbeks in Russia.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Uzbek people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Uzbek families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Uzbek families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for Uzbek family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Uzbek, Northern in Russia.


References

Uzbek profile for Children and Family Missions Activities
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbeks_in_Russia
https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-labor-migrants-looking-beyond-russia
https://www.pravmir.com/missionaries-to-set-up-orthodox-communities-of-migrants-in-moscow/
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/09/15/moscow-metro-adds-tajik-uzbek-language-signs-in-migrant-centers-a75047
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/19/eastern-promises-migrant-workers-turning-backs-russia


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Uzbek, Northern
People Name in Country Uzbek, Northern
Natural Name Northern Uzbek
Pronunciation OOZ-bek
Alternate Names Northern Uzbek; Ouzbek; Ozbek; Usbaki; Uzbeki; Wuzibieke; उज़्बेक, नॉर्दर्न
Population this Country 322,000
Population all Countries 32,965,000
Total Countries 18
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
PeopleID3 14039
ROP3 Code 107469
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.30 %)
0.75 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
84.75 %
Non-Religious
14.00 %
Other / Small
0.50 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Uzbek, Northern (322,000 speakers)
Language Code uzn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Uzbek, Northern (322,000 speakers)
Language Code uzn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Uzbek, Northern

Primary Language:  Uzbek, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1891-1992)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1992-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2016-2023)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Uzbek, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Muqaddas Kitob Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: The Bible in Uzbek (Cyrillic) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: Uzbek, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Mo'jizaviy kitob (Bible stories in Uzbek) Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Muqaddas Kitob (Uzbek Bible) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Uzbek, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Book Reading App: Expand Your English Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
Mobile App iOS Book Reading App: Expand Your English: O'zbekcha Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source Fulvio Spada - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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